With all eyes on Glasgow for COP26, and hydrogen power high on the political agenda as one of the nation’s greatest assets in the race to Net Zero, a Nottingham-based manufacturer is celebrating its expertise being embedded into world-firsts project that are set to steal the show.
Luxfer Gas Cylinders has over two decades of legacy in designing industry-leading alternative fuel systems, which harness hydrogen for transport. The firm has been commissioned by major players in the field, to provide bespoke and innovative solutions across rail, road, river and more.
This includes the HydroFLEX - a former Thameslink electric train retrofitted to run using a hydrogen fuel system, designed by Luxfer. It will take its very first passenger journey at the Climate Change Summit, with special guests using the ‘on-board boardroom’.
The world-first double-decker hydrogen buses, launched in Aberdeen earlier this year are destined for the streets of Glasgow during COP26, powered by Luxfer-designed systems.
Dubbed ‘one of the greenest cars on the planet’, the Rasa hydrogen-powered two-seater – fitted with a gas storage system from Luxfer engineers - plans to be in Glasgow too.
As will Arcola Energy-led hydrogen train project, which is a converted ScotRail electric train benefitting from Luxfer’s know-how.
Ahead of the biggest environmental event in recent history Mark Lawday, Global Sales Director at Luxfer, can provide expert commentary on hydrogen as a crucial fuel to enable the UK to reach zero emissions targets.
Sharing his considerable knowledge on how the gas can be used to drive the UK’s decarbonisation ambitions, Mark is available to comment on:
- Hydrogen’s potential to be the nation’s greenest energy source – the what, when, where and why of hydrogen, including how it compares to other cleaner fuels such as electric, and what the future holds for its application.
- Overcoming the barriers to a hydrogen revolution – thanks to new partnerships with energy providers including Octopus Hydrogen Luxfer will, from early 2022, provide the means to safely transport hydrogen to where it’s needed the most, via its innovative bulk gas transport cylinders, each carrying 1.1 tonnes of hydrogen. This is significant to overcoming the issue of a lack of infrastructure, that has impacted take-up of the fuel.
- Unrivalled homegrown hydrogen transport sector expertise – how UK expertise is being channelled into unique systems to support all modes of transport from cars, double-decker buses, trains and refuse trucks to farming equipment and HGVs – plus how it’s being used within the marine and aviation sectors, including drone technology.
- About HydroFLEX – the Porterbrook train is the culmination of the best in UK engineering, fitted by Luxfer with an impressive 36-cylinder system, with each cylinder 3.2 metres long and holding 7.8kg of hydrogen. It will be the first passenger-carrying train of its kind in the UK. With all diesel trains being decommissioned in the UK by 2040, retrofits like HydroFLEX, provide a fast service and are a cheaper alternative to purchasing new purpose-built trains.
No stranger to innovation, Luxfer is internationally renowned as a partner in zero-emission hydrogen powered vehicles and began life over 125 years ago, producing high-pressure gas cylinders since the 1930s, and pioneering the hydrogen tank and valve technology from the late 1990s.
Source: https://www.luxfercylinders.com/